They can't. They have legal restrictions on how they have to operate which Uber either don't have to obey or don't think they have to obey.
This is what the protest is about. Not just "OMG competition!"
This is what the protest is about. Not just "OMG competition!"
Similarly, Britain's protesters have demanded Uber to do away with fare estimates.
Notice how these complaints aren't in the form of: Let us do what Uber is doing. Rather, they take the form: Stop letting Uber do what it's doing. The Taxi owners want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to continue to protect their business models by placing artificial limits on competition, and they seek to disallow novel technology that would make their fare structure less opaque.
But you're right, the individual cab drivers probably just want competition outlawed.
>> they seek to disallow novel technology that would make their fare structure less opaque.
FYI - In London the fare structure is not opaque, it's set out on a notice in every Taxi and the meter is set up and sealed by TFL.
I think the minicab folks are annoyed for the same reason - they can't charge the way Uber does, only black cabs can do that. So uber is in a grey area - it's not licensed to charge by meter, but it kinda-sorta does, and it doesn't charge the rates black cabs have to.
IIRC black cabs are prohibited from using GPS as well... but that seems minor and I may be wrong.